[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - SEPTEMBER FLOWS REDUCED IN GRAND CANYON]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - SEPTEMBER FLOWS REDUCED IN GRAND CANYON
Date: 	Wed, 24 Aug 2005 17:47:31 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	riverwire at rrfw.org



RRFW Riverwire – SEPTEMBER FLOWS REDUCED IN GRAND CANYON

US Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, Salt Lake City, UT

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix (801) 524-3837, dhendrix at uc.usbr.gov

Stacey Carroll (801) 524-3813

For Release: August 24, 2005

Reclamation to Initiate Experimental Releases from Glen Canyon Dam to 
Evaluate Effects on Sediment Conservation and Native Fish Habitats

Salt Lake City, UT – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that in 
conjunction with the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological 
Survey, it will soon begin a series of alternating steady and low 
fluctuating experimental releases from Glen Canyon Dam to evaluate fine 
sediment conservation measures and effects on native fish near shore 
rearing habitats in the Colorado River downstream of the dam.

Over the course of September 1 to September 3, 2005, Reclamation will 
reduce releases from Glen Canyon Dam. In August 2005 releases have been 
fluctuating between a low of 10,000 cubic-feet-second (cfs) to a high of 
about 18,000 cfs each day. By September 3, 2005, the daily release 
pattern will be reduced to a range of 6,500 to 9,000 cfs. These lowered 
daily fluctuations will continue until September 21 at which time 
releases will change to a steady release of 8,000 cfs. On October 8, dam 
releases will revert back to 6,500 to 9,000 cfs daily fluctuations. 
These fluctuations will be replaced on October 20 with a resumption of 
steady 8,000 cfs, which will persist through the remainder of October. 
Normal dam operations will resume on November 1, 2005.

In November 2004, as a precursor to this year’s experimental releases, 
Reclamation and various other federal and state agencies conducted a 
scientific study on the use of high flows from Glen Canyon Dam to 
conserve sediment that had accumulated below the confluence of the Paria 
River in Marble Canyon. The high flows were released from the dam 
following input of approximately one million metric tons of fine 
sediments to the Colorado from the Paria and other tributaries.

The purpose of the high flow was to determine the extent to which it is 
possible to rebuild beaches and backwater habitats as a means to improve 
natural resources in the Grand Canyon. Under the high flow test 
experiment, the peak flow released from Glen Canyon Dam reached 
approximately 41,000 cfs and lasted for two and one-half days (60 
hours). The water released from Glen Canyon Dam during the experiment 
did not change the amount of water to be released over the course of the 
2005 water year.

Both the high flow test conducted in November 2004 and the upcoming 
experimental releases are being implemented based on recommendations 
made by the Adaptive Management Work Group of the Glen Canyon Dam 
Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP), a federal advisory committee to 
the Secretary of the Interior, in August 2004. These actions are being 
implemented in water years 2005 and 2006 to improve the potential for 
success in achieving the purposes of the original action agreed to in 2002.

The Adaptive Management Work Group is a federally chartered advisory 
group to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton that meets on a regular 
basis to review the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam on downstream resources 
and to develop recommendations on management actions to protect the 
downstream ecosystem. The Adaptive Management Program provides a process 
to implement both the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 and the 1996 
Record of Decision for the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Environmental 
Impact Statement. Additional information concerning the Adaptive 
Management Program and the work of the Adaptive Management Work Group 
may be found on the Bureau of Reclamation’s web page, located at: 
www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/amp/index.html.

###

Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second 
largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with 
operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also 
provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife 
benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov.

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